Guest guest Posted May 29, 2007 Report Share Posted May 29, 2007 I used to work in an inpt. rehab setting in which aides sometimes provided the entire treatment . I was told it was perfectly legal..maybe because it's inpt. , but I thought aides were just that...aides...not therapists. Amy Babb, DPT FL ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2007 Report Share Posted May 29, 2007 Pierre - we have had the opportunity to interview a few PT's from the east coast and central US and that practice seems common - at least by report. Here in the Seattle area there is not much of that going on - at least that I am aware of. The practice of scheduling (double booking and use of extenders to provide care) based on insurance coverage and what is allowed seems to fly in the face of what we consider professional care. Maybe that is the only way to be financially viable with reimbursement for services being as low as it is. Jeff Wheeler PT, GCS Inpatient Therapy Supervisor Highline Med. Ctr./Highline Therapy Services 206 248-4651 Use of Aides To the group. I spoke to a friend of mine in NYC who is having PT. The therapist sees him about 15 min max and sends him out to the gym where an aide watches him exercise. I told him he should seek therapy elsewhere, but he assumes this is probably a common practice. My question is: how common is this type of arrangement? In addition to poor outcomes I would think the practice would be open to lawsuits should a pt become injured. And aren't third party payers (besides Medicare) interested in the level of supervision their policy holders receive? Pierre H. Rougny, PT MTC Director of Rehab Sebasticook Valley Hospital 21 Leighton St. Pittsfield, ME 04967 (207)487-9293 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2007 Report Share Posted May 29, 2007 Unfortunately this is common, against the law - depends on practice act and what the patient is told, or better yet understands What kind of setting? Is it line of site supervision? Ron Barbato PT Administrative Director, Rehabilitation Services Ephraim McDowell Health Voice: Fax: rbarbato@... PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: This transmission may contain information that is privileged subject to attorney-client privilege or attorney work product, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, then please do not read it and be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this transmission in error, please immediately advise me, by reply e-mail, and delete this message and any attachments without retaining a copy in any form. Thank you. Use of Aides To the group. I spoke to a friend of mine in NYC who is having PT. The therapist sees him about 15 min max and sends him out to the gym where an aide watches him exercise. I told him he should seek therapy elsewhere, but he assumes this is probably a common practice. My question is: how common is this type of arrangement? In addition to poor outcomes I would think the practice would be open to lawsuits should a pt become injured. And aren't third party payers (besides Medicare) interested in the level of supervision their policy holders receive? Pierre H. Rougny, PT MTC Director of Rehab Sebasticook Valley Hospital 21 Leighton St. Pittsfield, ME 04967 (207)487-9293 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2007 Report Share Posted May 29, 2007 Pierre, I think we all know that this is not an exceptable practice for Medicare and it is not exceptable for ANY PT setting in New York State. Here is a direct quote form the frequently asked questions section of the NYS APTA site...... May I use an " Aide or " Assistant " to provide physical therapy services? New York State law restricts the practice of physical therapy to licensed physical therapists or certified physical therapist assistants. Individuals who are not licensed or certified may not provide physical therapy services. Aides may perform non-patient related activities such as secretarial, clerical and housekeeping tasks. Additionally, aides may act as an extra set of hands for the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who is actually providing the treatment. To read more here is the link. http://www.op.nysed.gov/ptfaq.htm I would seek treatment elsewhere. Noreen Vollmer,PT ----Original Message Follows---- Reply-To: PTManager To: <PTManager > Subject: Use of Aides Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 09:21:51 -0400 To the group. I spoke to a friend of mine in NYC who is having PT. The therapist sees him about 15 min max and sends him out to the gym where an aide watches him exercise. I told him he should seek therapy elsewhere, but he assumes this is probably a common practice. My question is: how common is this type of arrangement? In addition to poor outcomes I would think the practice would be open to lawsuits should a pt become injured. And aren't third party payers (besides Medicare) interested in the level of supervision their policy holders receive? Pierre H. Rougny, PT MTC Director of Rehab Sebasticook Valley Hospital 21 Leighton St. Pittsfield, ME 04967 (207)487-9293 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2007 Report Share Posted May 29, 2007 In the Texas market this practice is rampant. I have colleagues in several Texas cities and they report this is what their competition does routinely. My two primary competitors practice this way, but the average patient does not know what they have a right to, or what the law requires. Greg Lego, PT, DPT Director of Rehab Regional Medical Center Kerrville, TX Use of Aides To the group. I spoke to a friend of mine in NYC who is having PT. The therapist sees him about 15 min max and sends him out to the gym where an aide watches him exercise. I told him he should seek therapy elsewhere, but he assumes this is probably a common practice. My question is: how common is this type of arrangement? In addition to poor outcomes I would think the practice would be open to lawsuits should a pt become injured. And aren't third party payers (besides Medicare) interested in the level of supervision their policy holders receive? Pierre H. Rougny, PT MTC Director of Rehab Sebasticook Valley Hospital 21 Leighton St. Pittsfield, ME 04967 (207)487-9293 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 Good Morning Pierre- We are very careful at all of our locations that we use aides in a supportive capacity only. They assist in preparing hot/cold packs, overseeing an exercise program (non-billable of course) set-up and take down of the treatment areas, changing linens, assisting on the phone, etc. We have run into the same situation with patients coming to us from our competitors saying how the therapists only saw them for 15 minutes, but their aides did the ultrasound, ex, etc. We strive to maintain a quality practice, and its very disheartening to see our colleagues at other facilities misusing their aides and not providing their patients with 1:1 therapy services by a skilled, licensed professional. While rehab aides serve a valuable purpose in any rehab setting, it is important to use them only within their capacity and not misrepresent them to patients as 'therapists or assistants. " Kimberley R. Palma Office Manager, ECHN Rehabilitation Services (Connecticut) Tel: x5579 Fax: kpalma@... _____ From: PTManager [mailto:PTManager ] On Behalf Of Jeff Wheeler Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:43 PM To: PTManager Subject: RE: Use of Aides Pierre - we have had the opportunity to interview a few PT's from the east coast and central US and that practice seems common - at least by report. Here in the Seattle area there is not much of that going on - at least that I am aware of. The practice of scheduling (double booking and use of extenders to provide care) based on insurance coverage and what is allowed seems to fly in the face of what we consider professional care. Maybe that is the only way to be financially viable with reimbursement for services being as low as it is. Jeff Wheeler PT, GCS Inpatient Therapy Supervisor Highline Med. Ctr./Highline Therapy Services 206 248-4651 Use of Aides To the group. I spoke to a friend of mine in NYC who is having PT. The therapist sees him about 15 min max and sends him out to the gym where an aide watches him exercise. I told him he should seek therapy elsewhere, but he assumes this is probably a common practice. My question is: how common is this type of arrangement? In addition to poor outcomes I would think the practice would be open to lawsuits should a pt become injured. And aren't third party payers (besides Medicare) interested in the level of supervision their policy holders receive? Pierre H. Rougny, PT MTC Director of Rehab Sebasticook Valley Hospital 21 Leighton St. Pittsfield, ME 04967 (207)487-9293 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2008 Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 Hello Ron, This is the answer that our company got regarding the use of Aides. Q: In a November Federal Register, it was stated that CMS is changing the requirements for Part A and Part B therapies to have the same requirements for the use of therapy Aides. Does that mean that we will not be able to use Aides for Part A as we do now? A: CMS is looking to standardize the requirements for Part A and Part B therapy but the change has not been made yet. When that change is made, providers will be notified in the form of a MLN Matters article. There is no projected time-frame for this change. Egbert PT, WCC, CKTP Director of Rehab Draper, Utah Ron Wall wrote: Group I ahve been asked by several people recently about a Medicare rule change that is to take effect in July 2008 regarding the use of PT Aides. What I have been told is that Aides will no longer be allowed when delivering Medicare A services in an SNF setting. I have not been able to find the documentation to support this. I would appreciate it if some one can direct me to where I may find this. Ron Wall Axiom Healthcare Group Ontario, CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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